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“I don’t see how it will work out between us.”
“What do you mean?”
Carter rubbed at a spot on his cheek while considering how much to share. “I don’t fit into her world.”
“Why would you think that?”
Carter gestured toward the house. “I can’t compete with this.”
Derek snorted. “None of us can, Carter. I’m sure you remember the modest house where I grew up.”
Carter looked down at his bare feet.
“Why do you feel like you have to compete with her parents?”
“I don’t even have my own place.” He checked the door and then lowered his voice just in case Darcy had her window open. “I haven’t told her this yet, but I live with my sister and her husband.” Shame nearly choked him as empathy filled his friend’s face. “I went through a tough time a few years ago. An unexpected medical issue.” He hadn’t expected to say this much to Derek, but he suddenly felt the need to tell him.
Derek blinked, then opened and closed his mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks. I’m a lot better now, but it destroyed me financially. I had to move out of my place, move in with my sister, and depend on her and her husband’s family for a while. It was completely humiliating.”
“But you got through it, and you’re healthy now?”
“Yes, but I’m still digging out of debt.”
“We all go through hard times, Carter.” Derek seemed to study him. “Why would you believe that would interfere with your relationship with Darcy?”
Carter frowned. “I have nothing to offer her. I can’t promise her a bright future. I’ve been nothing but a leech on my family. Why would she want a man like that?”
Derek gave him a knowing look. “My girlfriend is best friends with your girlfriend. I’ve known Darcy for a long time too. She’s not shallow.”
He hadn’t thought Gabby was either.
“Darcy understands hard times. She had...”
Carter looked at him. “She what?”
Derek cleared his throat. “She lost her fiancé, remember?”
They were silent for a moment as they looked out toward the dark beach. Thoughts of Darcy’s late fiancé filled his mind, along with questions.
“She told me a little bit about him. Did you know Jace?”
“Yeah. I knew him well—really well. He was one of my best friends.” Derek moved his hand over the deck railing as if wading through memories in his mind. “Jace was a good guy. We all met in college, and he and Darcy started dating around the same time I started dating Haven.”
“What did he study in school?”
“He was an architect. He treated Darcy great—always took care of her.”
Carter rubbed the back of his head. He could never live up to that either.
“They got engaged on Valentine’s Day and were going to get married around Thanksgiving.”
Carter nodded slowly. “She told me he was in an accident. Some guy ran a red light and broadsided him.”
“Yeah.” Derek shook his head. “Darcy took it hard. She still blames herself.”
Carter hung his head. He couldn’t imagine the depth of her grief.
